Owlz close home schedule with loss to Chukars

OREM, Utah-Cody Ramer and Nick Flair combined for six hits as the Orem Owlz closed the book on the regular season at home with a loss to the Idaho Falls Chukars. The Owlz put together a comeback effort in the eighth, but fell short by a final of 6-5.

After the Chukars (38-36, 16-20) tallied one run in the first inning, Flair led off the second inning for the Owlz (38-36, 16-20) with a line drive to left for a double. Flair advanced to third on a John Schuknecht grounded out to second on a comebacker off pitcher Alex Luna, Alex Abbott drove a double off the fence in right to plate Flair for a 1-1 tie.

Idaho Falls opened a three-run lead in the fifth behind back-to-back singles by Luke Willis and Rudy Martin. Both baserunners executed a successful double-steal to place both runners in scoring position, then Ricky Aracena drove a two-run double over the head of L.J. Kalawaia in center for a 4-1 lead. The Chukars also tallied a run in the sixth and one in the seventh.

Ramer helped put the Owlz within striking distance with a solo home run to left field in the sixth.

Trailing 6-2 in the bottom of the eighth, the Owlz made an attempt to come back as Ramer led off with a single to left then promptly stole second to put himself in scoring position. Flair ripped his third double of the night to score Ramer and put Orem within 6-3. John Schuknecht put the Owlz within a run with a two-run home run to left, but that was as close as they got.

Reliever Christian Flecha sent Orem down in order in the ninth and Ramer flied out to left to end the game and shut the book on the regular season at the Home of the Owlz.

Orem will travel to Idaho Falls to close out the regular season with a two-game series, which begins Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. MT at Melaluca Field.